Back-Calculation of Nonlinear Properties of Subgrade Using a New In Situ Nondestructive Testing Approach Based on Loading Sequence
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24, Issue 10
Abstract
This study aims to develop a new in situ nondestructive testing (NDT) method to determine nonlinear parameters of subgrade soils and to establish a method to calculate the subgrade design modulus. The new method collects nonlinear characteristics of the subgrade by in situ test with various combinations of dynamic stress and static stress and back-calculates subgrade nonlinear parameters by machine learning algorithm. The highlight of this study is to solve the problem that the results of different test methods are not unique, and the stress-dependence characteristics of the subgrade are fully considered. The main work is as follows: (1) develop a new resilient modulus prediction model considering dynamic and static effects; (2) propose a novel in situ NDT method based on loading sequences; (3) establish a fuzzy back-propagation neural network (BPNN) algorithm to compute subgrade nonlinear parameters; and (4) propose a calculation method of subgrade design modulus based on the principle of deflection equivalence and establish an empirical equation of subgrade design modulus. The results showed that the contact stress has an enhancing effect on resilient modulus of subgrade soils. The new in situ NDT method has been proved feasible in theory and can accurately obtain the nonlinear characteristics of the subgrade.
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Data Availability Statement
The data and models that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request. The authors confirm that the code supporting the findings of this study is available within the article’s supplemental materials.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFB2600900), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52025085, 51927814).
Author contributions: Haishan Fan: software simulation, formal analysis, methodology, validation, writing—original draft. Junhui Zhang: formal analysis, funding acquisition, project administration, writing—review and editing. Jianlong Zheng: supervision.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 24 • Issue 10 • October 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 12, 2022
Accepted: Apr 29, 2024
Published online: Aug 9, 2024
Published in print: Oct 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jan 9, 2025
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
- Computer programming
- Computing in civil engineering
- Engineering fundamentals
- Field tests
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Infrastructure
- Load tests
- Neural networks
- Nondestructive tests
- Nonlinear analysis
- Pavements
- Soil mechanics
- Soil modulus
- Soil properties
- Structural analysis
- Structural engineering
- Subgrades
- Tests (by type)
- Transportation engineering
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